Download help

Download help

Experience has taught us that computers can be fussy sometimes. If your computer is giving you grief as you try to download our files, here are some instructions that may help.

Steps for Downloading

Download links are provided on the purchase confirmation page and in your e-mailed receipt. Just click the link to start downloading. (Can’t find your link? See Help, I Didn’t Get My Download Links)

If asked to open or save, be sure to choose Save.

Choose a location on your computer to save the file. Your desktop is a good choice if you don’t know where you would like it.

When you double-click a .pdf file, it should open in Adobe Reader. If you don’t have the latest version, you can download it for free at Adobe’s website.

Audio .mp3 files should open in Windows Media Player or iTunes. You can get a free copy of iTunes from the iTunes Web site.

Help, I Didn’t Get My Download Links

After your purchase, you should be taken to a page confirming your order. This page includes your download links. We also send you an e-mail receipt that includes your download links under each downloadable product you ordered.

Sometimes our e-mail messages get blocked by anti-spam filters. Be sure to check in your spam or junk mailbox. You can help make sure our e-mails get through by adding orders@homeschooladventure.com to your address book, approved list, or whitelist. Also be sure to mark any messages mistakenly placed in your junk folder as not spam to help the system learn to handle it properly in the future.

If you still can’t find your download links, please use the contact form for help.

Damaged File Error

Sometimes an error like this appears when trying to open a file you have downloaded from us (emphasis added to show the important clues):

Adobe Reader could not open ‘Some-File-From-HSA.zip‘ because it is either not a supported file type or because the file has been damaged (for example, it was sent as an email attachment and wasn't correctly decoded).

Notice that it says Adobe Reader is trying to open a zip file. The file isn't really damaged. Adobe Reader is only made to open pdf files and just doesn't know how to deal with a zip file. Most likely, the software needed for unpacking a zip file is not installed on your computer or is out of date. Fortunately, there is free software you can install to handle it. Please see installing 7-zip for instructions.

If the zip file opens okay, but Adobe Reader then complains that the file is damaged and can’t be repaired, try these steps:

Download and install a new copy of Adobe Reader. It can sometimes get damaged, so please try this even if you already have the current version. There is no cost, and you can get it here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

Reboot your computer just to be sure everything is starting fresh.

Delete the files that didn’t open and download your files again. See the Steps for Downloading section for help downloading and opening the files.

Can’t Open .efw File

Our books are actually sent as a .zip file that must be unpacked to get the pdf books inside. Computer Associates (CA) antivirus and personal firewall software has a habit of renaming .zip files to .efw as a precaution, even if the file is not infected with anything.

To fix it, right-click on the downloaded file, click Rename, and change the .efw to .zip. You should then be able to open it.

If your computer does not have recent software for unpacking zip files, please see installing 7-zip for instructions.

Backups

Don’t forget to make a backup copy of your files once you get them downloaded successfully. Use a CD or other media that you can store away from your computer. If the files on your computer get damaged or lost, you can easily restore them from your backup.

Contact Us for More Help

Still having trouble? Please use our contact form to give us the details so we can help.